Top-5s change in Varsity Maine football polls
The Maine high school football season is poised for a defining moment this week, as the state’s top two teams—Thornton Academy and Bonny Eagle—are set to clash in a highly anticipated matchup that could reshape the landscape of the 11-man division. The Golden Trojans, ranked No. 1 in the latest Varsity Maine poll, and the Scots, holding down the No. 2 spot, will face off Saturday in Saco, marking the first time this fall that the top two teams have met in regular-season play. This long-awaited encounter comes after both teams have dominated the polls all season, with Thornton Academy maintaining a perfect hold on first-place votes and Bonny Eagle consistently in second.
The Varsity Maine 11-man football poll, based on games played through October 17, reflects a competitive field. Thornton Academy leads with 90 points, including nine first-place votes, while Bonny Eagle follows with 81 points. Lawrence sits third with 71 points, and Oxford Hills has made a significant leap, jumping from seventh to fourth place after a decisive 29-0 victory over Portland. That win also gives Oxford Hills the inside track to the top seed in Class A North. Leavitt enters the top five for the first time this season, ranking fifth with 54 points, and faces a tough test on the road against Hermon on Friday. Cony has also moved up three spots to seventh, tied with Kennebunk and Portland at 29 points each. Marshwood rounds out the top nine with 17 points, while Greely reenters the rankings at tenth with 12 points after a win over Hermon. Massabesic, Skowhegan, and Hermon also received votes.
In the eight-man division, Yarmouth continues to hold the top spot with 90 points and nine first-place votes, followed by Old Orchard Beach with 78 points. Stearns/Schenck is third with 73 points, Old Town fourth with 64 points, and Gray-New Gloucester joins the poll for the first time this season at fifth with 24 points, having won five straight games since a season-opening loss to Cape Elizabeth. Spruce Mountain and Cape Elizabeth also received votes.
The upcoming Week 8 games are critical for playoff seeding and regional bragging rights, with the Thornton-Bonny Eagle clash headlining a slate of pivotal contests. Coaches and players alike are emphasizing the importance of these matchups as teams jockey for position in the final weeks of the regular season.
